Got a little info if it helps.
Tees and Hartlepool Habour Police cover quite a vast area, ther's between six and twelve police that work for the port authority and carry ASPs, C.S and Speedcuffs as Cleveland Police.
They have the same powers as any other Constable, as long as it is within a mile of the docks or land owned by PD Teesport. (same as BTP) and can arrest people by using PACE or PD Teesport bye laws.
Hope this helps

Got a little info if it helps.Tees and Hartlepool Habour Police cover quite a vast area, ther's between six and twelve police that work for the port authority and carry ASPs, C.S and Speedcuffs as Cleveland Police.They have the same powers as any other Constable, as long as it is within a mile of the docks or land owned by PD Teesport. (same as BTP) and can arrest people by using PACE or PD Teesport bye laws.Hope this helps

BTP now have standard HO force powers under the new terrorism act of a couple of years ago.

Got a little info if it helps.Tees and Hartlepool Habour Police cover quite a vast area, ther's between six and twelve police that work for the port authority and carry ASPs, C.S and Speedcuffs as Cleveland Police.They have the same powers as any other Constable, as long as it is within a mile of the docks or land owned by PD Teesport. (same as BTP) and can arrest people by using PACE or PD Teesport bye laws.Hope this helps

Hope your information about Harbour Police is more accurate than your knowledge of the BTP ?

I wonder what authority they have to carry CS, as they are not a police force by virtue of the definition of the Police Act? It took a change in legislation for BTP to carry CS so I wonder how the private constabulary of a port authority can do so?

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I wonder what authority they have to carry CS, as they are not a police force by virtue of the definition of the Police Act? It took a change in legislation for BTP to carry CS so I wonder how the private constabulary of a port authority can do so?

Easy answer, phone and ask them, sure they will have the legitimate answer.

Teesport Harbour Police CAN carry cuffs, baton and gas ... However we don't use CS as use on-board ships will spread and get everyone ... We are one of only a few forces that use Pava ( http://en.wikipedia....wiki/PAVA_spray ). which is much nastier but only affects who you hit with it. We also have Cleveland Airwave radios, PNC access etc., and work alongside them using their custody and PHT. We do the same training as any police officer however we also get all the maritime training on top ie : Sea survival, boat handling etc.

The only difference between us and a Home Office constable is we are privately funded. We have powers that come from Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority Act 1966 (Chapter XXV Part X Sec.103(1))which gives the port the right to have its own police force.

P.S. Our jurisdiction extends 2 miles from high water - So that's basically 2 miles past Hartlepool, Redcar and the same inland. However this is being reviewed with the aim to become national jurisdiction.

CS/PAVA is controlled by the Firearms Act 1968, from which the only exceptions are: SCDEA, SOCA and regular police officers/PCSOs of territorial police forces, BTP and the CNC. This area of the law seems to be generally overlooked by everyone involved, because specials have been carrying for years and it makes no provision for them!

CS/PAVA is controlled by the Firearms Act 1968, from which the only exceptions are: SCDEA, SOCA and regular police officers/PCSOs of territorial police forces, BTP and the CNC.

Yea ... And we are regular police officers. Were sworn in, do the training, talk the talk and walk (Well drive octavia's really) the walk. There is no difference (Other than who pays our wages) between the harbour and regular police.

Teesport Harbour Police CAN carry cuffs, baton and gas ... However we don't use CS as use on-board ships will spread and get everyone ... We are one of only a few forces that use Pava ( http://en.wikipedia....wiki/PAVA_spray ). which is much nastier but only affects who you hit with it. We also have Cleveland Airwave radios, PNC access etc., and work alongside them using their custody and PHT. We do the same training as any police officer however we also get all the maritime training on top ie : Sea survival, boat handling etc.

The only difference between us and a Home Office constable is we are privately funded. We have powers that come from Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority Act 1966 (Chapter XXV Part X Sec.103(1))which gives the port the right to have its own police force.

P.S. Our jurisdiction extends 2 miles from high water - So that's basically 2 miles past Hartlepool, Redcar and the same inland. However this is being reviewed with the aim to become national jurisdiction.

Most forces are moving away from CS as its not as effective as PAVA/Captor ans if discharged in a vehicle or railway carrage, that vehicle cant be used until its deep cleaned, were as PAVA is gone in 30 to 40 mins.

Yea ... And we are regular police officers. Were sworn in, do the training, talk the talk and walk (Well drive octavia's really) the walk. There is no difference (Other than who pays our wages) between the harbour and regular police.

I was trying to put it as simply as possible! My apologies if it wasn't clear.

The Firearms Act refers to "members of police forces".

"Police force", because it is undefined by the Firearms Act, has the meaning given by the Interpretation Act, which in turn is the one given by s101 of the Police Act 1996. In s101, "police force" refers to territorial police forces - police forces maintained for a police area under the Police Act 1996 - only. Therefore, the meaning does not include any harbour police force or any other type of police force, such as Mersey Tunnels etc.

"Member" means regular officer, and does not by any interpretation of police law include special constables, even those appointed to a territorial police force.

Of course, it is entirely possible that some other permission has been granted to the Teesport (and others, such as Dover who carry CS/PAVA if I remember correctly) within the mechanisms of the Firearms Act, but this is unlikely.

I was trying to put it as simply as possible! My apologies if it wasn't clear.

The Firearms Act refers to "members of police forces".

"Police force", because it is undefined by the Firearms Act, has the meaning given by the Interpretation Act, which in turn is the one given by s101 of the Police Act 1996. In s101, "police force" refers to territorial police forces - police forces maintained for a police area under the Police Act 1996 - only. Therefore, the meaning does not include any harbour police force or any other type of police force, such as Mersey Tunnels etc.

"Member" means regular officer, and does not by any interpretation of police law include special constables, even those appointed to a territorial police force.

Of course, it is entirely possible that some other permission has been granted to the Teesport (and others, such as Dover who carry CS/PAVA if I remember correctly) within the mechanisms of the Firearms Act, but this is unlikely.

Very interesting post. So does that mean that Specials in E&W have been packing heat illegally for the last few years?!

And what part of "We are as Harbour Constables exactly the same as 'Regular' officers" don't we get ? ... I am sworn in as a constable in front of a justice of the peace - Not as a Special or PCSO - A real true to life Police Officer .. I don't know where Specials get the power to use CS, but I know where I get mine ... The same place as 'regular' police officers.

And what part of "We are as Harbour Constables exactly the same as 'Regular' officers" don't we get ? ... I am sworn in as a constable in front of a justice of the peace - Not as a Special or PCSO - A real true to life Police Officer .. I don't know where Specials get the power to use CS, but I know where I get mine ... The same place as 'regular' police officers.

I'm sorry, I tried to explain it very clearly in my last post. You see to have just skipped the definition of "police force" in it's entirety It's not worth arguing the toss, let's leave it at that.

I'm sorry, I tried to explain it very clearly in my last post. You see to have just skipped the definition of "police force" in it's entirety It's not worth arguing the toss, let's leave it at that.

You are only quoting from the Act you know.

Here's my authority taken straight out of the act I mentioned earlier :

CH. XXV Part X Sec.103.

(l) The Authority may continue and maintain theseparate police force maintained by the Tees Commissioners immediately before the appointed day for police duty within theharbour, and may from time to time appoint officers and men forthat purpose who shall hold office at pleasure.

(2) In the event of the continuance of the said separate policeforce under this section the provisions specified in Schedule 9to this Act and the provisions of sections 51, 52 and 53 of the Police Act 1964 (which concern assaults on constables, impersonation,etc., and causing disaffection) shall apply thereto.

(3) Every member of the said separate police force shall, onappointment, be attested as a constable by making a declarationbefore a justice of the peace having jurisdiction within the harbourand such declaration shall be in the form set out in Schedule 2to the Police Act 1964.

(4) Members of the said separate police force shall have allthe powers and privileges and shall be entitled to the indemnitiesand protection of a constable within the harbour and in anyplace not more than 2 miles beyond the limits of the harbour.

So where in all that does it say 'They shall not be a regular officer' ? ... Section (4) says differently.

When did Tees & Hartlepool Harbour constables get the pava spray? It must have been fairly recently, I never noticed it on Jim the sgt when he called at South Bank nick, although I may have missed it!

Its not been that long ... Not sure the exact date as it was just before I joined. Check now and he will be well happy to show you

I don't want to turn this into an argument, but it's hard to tell whether you're being deliberately disingenuous or otherwise.

The right to carry a weapon that is controlled by the Firearms Act is not granted by the fact that someone has "the powers and privileges" or "the indemnities and protection" of a constable*. The right to carry the weapon is granted by section 54 of that Act, which makes provision for people in the service of Her Majesty - the Crown. You are a servant of the port company, not the Crown.

Section 54(3) provides that "members of police forces" are deemed to be people in the service of Her Majesty for the purposes of the Act. The definition of "member of a police force" is not at all clear, and has different meanings in England & Wales and Scotland.

As I explained in a post above, "police force" has a meaning given by the Interpretation Act 1978. It only includes "Home Office" police forces, that is police forces maintained for a police area under the Police Act 1996 or Police (Scotland) Act 1967.

As to the meaing of "member", this section of the Firearms Act is extremely poorly written. By any logical reading of the phrase "members of a police force", territorial specials in E&W are excluded. "Member of a police forces" has a very specific meaning given by the Police Act, and that meaning is used in related legislation. However, the phrase "member of a police force" has no meaning in relation to Scottish forces - but by a reasonable interpretation would extend to the entire force, regulars and specials, and therefore create a discrepancy between England and Scotland. (Per subsections (3A) & (3B), BTP specials are included with regulars, but only by unnecessarily strenuous interpretation.)

It is only a matter of time before a legal challenge is brought under this section and I dread to think what will happen when it does.

(*This phrasing of subsection (4) is used to attract (in legislative terminology) those sections of the law that give powers & privileges to constables. (Incidentally, the phrasing used in the Tees and Hartlepool Port Authority Act 1966 is, as far as I know, unique to that Act.))

The right to carry the weapon is granted by section 54 of that Act, which makes provision for people in the service of Her Majesty - the Crown. You are a servant of the port company, not the Crown.

I'm not trying to be awkward in this debate nor argue for no reason. Yes we are paid by a port, however we stand in front of a magistrate and swear the SAME attestation as a regular police officer :

"I, ... of ... do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law."

So I am in the service of the crown even if a 3rd party pay my wages ... Cleveland Police are sticklers for doing things right ... No way would they ever let us have PAVA, batons, Police vehicles and their Airwave sets if we were not allowed by law to have them. The Crown see us as full regular officers as do Cleveland Police, CPS, Parliament and the House of Lords - Who are just about to grant us National Jurisdiction.

[font="sans-serif"][size="3"][size=2]So I am in the service of the crown even if a 3rd party pay my wages ... Cleveland Police are sticklers for doing things right ... No way would they ever let us have PAVA, batons, Police vehicles and their Airwave sets if we were not allowed by law to have them.

I was under the impression that in order to be an Airwave user you had to be approved by the Govt. Cleveland Police cannot simply take you under their wing and provide you with their Airwave terminals if your force is not an approved sharer in its own right.